quite short pause
yes you’re probably right
Short pause
But we’ve never met each other before
THE MAN
No
quite short pause
no perhaps not
THE WOMAN
No we never have
met each other have we
THE MAN
Not like this
quite short pause
at least
but in another way
in its own way
we have known each other
THE WOMAN
Yes
yes perhaps
THE MAN
We’ve known each other
yes
yes in the sense
that we’ve always been looking for each other
THE WOMAN
Yes
THE MAN
Always
Short pause
And now
now we’ve finally
found each other
THE WOMAN
Yes
THE MAN
Now we’ve found the way to each other
THE WOMAN
Yes
quite short pause
yes perhaps it is like that
THE MAN
It is like that
you mustn’t doubt
for if you doubt
yes
yes then it won’t be like that
THE WOMAN
Can it really be like that
THE MAN
Yes
Yes I
you
we
quite short pause
we decide ourselves
how it will be
Pause
THE WOMAN
But it can’t be like that
quite short pause
it’ll be what it’ll be
quite short pause
you and I
don’t decide
quite short pause
it’s not like that
THE MAN
afraid
You mustn’t say that
Pause
THE WOMAN
questioningly
I shouldn’t say that
THE MAN
No
Pause
You mustn’t say that
quite short pause
not now
not when you and I
have found each other
have finally found the way to each other
Short pause
Aren’t you happy
THE WOMAN
Yes
quite short pause
yes I’m very happy
The Woman goes to The Man and kisses his cheek and they take each other’s hands, they stand and hold hands. Pause
THE SHIPMASTER
I am the shipmaster
Pause
THE GUITAR PLAYER
And I am the guitar player
THE SHIPMASTER
But why is there no one here
quite short pause
just you
just me
THE GUITAR PLAYER
questioningly
There’s no one here
THE SHIPMASTER
No
Pause
THE OLDER MAN
I’m here
Pause
THE SHIPMASTER
We’re on a ship
and I’m the master of the ship
Pause
THE OLDER WOMAN
I’m here
Short pause
THE GUITAR PLAYER
This is not a ship
Pause
THE SHIPMASTER
And who are you
THE GUITAR PLAYER
Who I am
I’ve told you so many times
I’ve told you who I am
I am the guitar player
THE SHIPMASTER
Yes
Pause. The Older Man looks at The Older Woman
THE GUITAR PLAYER
I play the most beautiful guitar music
Pause
THE OLDER MAN
But there you are
THE OLDER WOMAN
I’m here
I’ve been here all the time
yes
Pause
THE OLDER MAN
Good
glad you’re here
Short pause
I
quite short pause
yes I didn’t see you
quite short pause
I didn’t seem to notice you
Pause
THE OLDER WOMAN
But where are we
THE OLDER MAN
I don’t know
THE OLDER WOMAN
I don’t think I’ve been here before
THE OLDER MAN
No
quite short pause
no it doesn’t feel familiar
quite short pause
I don’t think I’ve been here before
quite short pause
or
THE OLDER WOMAN
Me neither
Quite short pause
But it’s good that we’re here together
you and I
you and I
like always
Quite short pause
THE OLDER MAN
But why are you just standing
there
so far away from me
THE OLDER WOMAN
I’m just standing here
THE OLDER MAN
Why don’t you come
over here to me
THE OLDER WOMAN
Yes okay
yes of course
Short pause
I could do that of course
Pause
THE OLDER MAN
Why don’t you come then
THE OLDER WOMAN
Yes I’m coming
Quite short pause
If you weren’t here with me
I’d have been very scared
quite short pause
because here
quite short pause
because here
I haven’t been here before
and it’s so
breaks off
THE OLDER MAN
But I’m with you
I’ll always be with you
yes
THE OLDER WOMAN
It’s as if I’m waking up
and suddenly I’m somewhere else
THE OLDER MAN
Is this somewhere else
THE OLDER WOMAN
Yes
yes it is isn’t it
THE OLDER MAN
Yes
THE OLDER WOMAN
Yes
it is
THE OLDER MAN
This is nowhere somehow
and then somehow it’s still
somewhere
THE OLDER WOMAN
continues
that is and that isn’t
at the same time
THE OLDER MAN
You’re just talking now
THE OLDER WOMAN
Just talking
THE OLDER MAN
Yes you’re just saying things
Short pause
THE OLDER WOMAN
There’s nothing to see here
THE OLDER MAN
No
Short pause
THE OLDER WOMAN
And is there someone here
THE OLDER MAN
It doesn’t feel like it
THE OLDER WOMAN
Can you see anyone
THE OLDER MAN
No
no no one
There’s no one here
just us
THE OLDER WOMAN
I’m scared
THE OLDER MAN
It doesn’t feel dangerous
THE OLDER WOMAN
No it can’t be dangerous
can it
THE OLDER MAN
This is just somewhere to be
The Older Man walks forward a little, he looks around, stops, he turns towards The Older Woman
There’s someone here
I think there’s someone here
THE OLDER WOMAN
Yes
Pause. The Shipmaster turns towards The Older Man